Cabaret at the Manoa Valley Theatre wraps just as Cats begins at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall. Lead Erin Wong is the star of Cabaret. She has stage presence, a beautiful voice and is cute. Makeup artist Greg Howell and costume designer Athena Espania did fabulous jobs as well. The performers looked like bubble gum-colored marionettes. Jimi Wheeler, Twan Matthews, Terry Howell Jr. and Roxanne Faye were dancing and giggling outside the theater doors just before running in for the opening number … Cats opened April 12 at 7:30 p.m. Opening night is a special show to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii. Tickets are $100 with lower level orchestra seats and a pre-show pupu reception hosted by Clear Channel Communications … Smart and chic 20- and 30- somethings lined up for SMART magazine’s launch party at the W’s Wonder Lounge. Creators Molly Watanabe, Amy Alson and Sarah Honda were adorned with lei and supportive friends. Makeup artist Geri Brown (from The Paul Brown Salon & Day Spa — no relation) was there with fiancé “Ace.” Miss Brown looked radiant, decked in suede pants, jeweled eyes and vibrant smile. It’s one of those smiles you don’t see too often — a smile worn only by those who are truly happy … Former owner of The Floating Space Luann Gordon made an early appearance. She sold the weightless saltwater tank so she could start selling timeshares, a more lucrative business … Finally got to meet fellow entertainment reporter Jason Genegabus of the Star-Bulletin! Ever notice you can’t tell what he looks like in his photo? … Surfer Malia Jones looks incredibly sexy on SMART’s cover. She’s wearing a tigerprint bikini and sheer wrap … Artist and photographer Forest James looked unusually dressed-up at this party. He just finished working on the indie film Dirty starring Clifton Collins Jr. and Cuba Gooding Jr. The two play gang bangers turned LAPD — dirty LAPD. It’s expected out this summer … James is back on the isle for three months doing some photo shoots for Adasa. He says he’s also shooting some of the Lost cast. “They’re friends,” he adds, “for my portfolio.” The hit series signed to film another season here in Hawaii. Great news considering Hawaii and North Shore couldn’t hold the ratings. I hear Lost’s season’s finale is going to be “unreal” … More TV stuff — Miss Hawaii USA Jennifer Fairbank was on NBC on Monday live from Baltimore for the Miss USA Pageant. Fairbank is a ’97 Punahou grad, 2001 Loyola Marymount grad, getting her master’s at HPU, and one of my yoga students. She’s sweet, smart and down to earth. While Miss USA seems to be holding onto its network partnership, Miss America is drowning. ABC dumped the scholastic pageant after an all-time low audience (9.8 million viewers). Now pageant organizers say they’re looking at all possibilities including making Miss America a reality show. Fox News reported the organization is even considering something like a Fear Factor. Miss USA and Miss Universe co-owner Donald Trump approached the organization about a possible merger. Raj Bhakta (The Apprentice, Season II), Days of Our Lives actor Brody Hutzler, Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Michael Phelps, David Caplan (senior writer, Star Magazine) and Trump Model Management Model Agent Valerie Boyce are just some of the pageant’s high profile judges … A local competition had its own high-profile judges: pro bodybuilder Mike Dragna and model Juliet Lighter were just two of them for Mai Tai’s Designer Body Building & Bikini Contest. 500+ people packed into Pipeline Café for the sold-out show. Mai Tai says he ended his partnership with former fitness model Angel Teves. This competition will be held annually in the spring. Goodbye to the hotel ballroom vibe. He wants a party and this year that’s what he got. Especially with DJ Jimmy Taco mixing the beats. People yelled and cheered for the contestants. Even the contestants cheered on other contestants — totally different from the ballroom atmosphere.

“It was fun!” said co-emcee Cindy Paliracio. “Ernie (Chang) cleaned house! He outshined everyone,” said the news reporter. Ernest Chang will be the HPD officer most recognized for his awesome abs by the end of the year. … Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant Uilani Laboy won the ladies’ bikini contest. Mai Tai swears implants aren’t required for this division, but most of these women look amazingly … buoyant. Sixteen women qualified, but one fainted during pre-judging. Get your tickets early next year cause it sold out fast … Both Paliracio and her co-host Kala`i Miller looked like they could ‘Cabaret’ cast members Roxanne Faye (Kit Kat girl), Jim Wheeler, Twan Matthews and Terry Howell be contestants! Hotties! … But don’t get this Kala`i Miller mixed up with a fugitive. How would you like to share your name with a criminal police are hunting down? Wayne Kalai Miller is wanted on a federal warrant related to a bank robbery on the Windward side. He’s also been arrested for auto theft, accidental death or bodily injury and weapons. CrimeStoppers says he’s considered armed and dangerous and hangs out in Waimanalo. Coincidentally, both Millers are Hawaiian and Caucasian. Both have brown hair, brown eyes and muscular builds. But Wayne has tattoos on his neck and arm. Kala`i doesn’t have any. Wayne’s also a baby, just 21. Kalai’s a bit older. Wayne looks like an angry kid. Kala`i looks like a Labrador puppy who just wants to play …